Saturday, November 24, 2012

From the EVG Twitter account... pretty empty streets this morning ... this one was on First Avenue between St. Mark's and East Ninth Street... the other was on East Ninth Street just west of Second Avenue...

First Avenue seems to be an area of focus for police w/r/t bicyclists. Saw two pulled over at the same time last weekend and another in front of the International the week before that. Both "early" (before noon) on a weekend before there are many cars.

@Impulse = mass x velocity I agree, at times the cars are no better, but for the most part they are coming from limited directions and they are large enough to see.

Last month I came THIS close to dragging a man off his bike and beating the Christ out of him. I was at crossing 2nd Ave at 10th Street, as I get to the bike lane I look to my left. All clear. I look to my right to and check for salmoners. All clear. As I turn my head back and walk into the bike lane, a guy comes from behind my left side and pulls onto the bike lane directly in my path. I had absolutely no way of seeing him because he came from behind me and then cut in front of me. He nearly hit me full speed.

Then he had the audacity to roll his eyes at me and shake his head. I dropped my bag in the bike lane, threw my hands up, and screamed, "Come back here and make that face again fucker!" Had he, I would have beat the shit out of him right there on the spot.

Oh please, bike haters. There's next to no enforcement of vehicular misbehavior -- which can kill you if you're a pedestrian -- but they'll ticket cyclists for jay-biking? I hate salmon cyclists as much as anyone, but I'll take a hundred of them over any one asshole motorist making a left turn at breakneck speed heedless of who's in the crosswalk, probably because he knows that if he mows someone down, the NYPD will dismiss it with a shrug and a "No criminality." The most ill-mannered bicyclist slows automotive traffic, which makes life safer for all of us who aren't driving everywhere encased in a ton of steel and plastic.

I recently had the pleasure of seeing 3 15 year olds skate boarding at a good clip on the north side sidewalk of e4th st onto 2nd ave. They shot straight into the bike lane to head up 2nd ave. The cyclist going through the red light collided with the first skateboarder and the both went down. They both also got up very quickly. So here my 10 year old dog and I experienced pure schadenfreude. She is terrified of Skateboarders and responds by attempting to attack them but the leash law that I obey "religiously" prevent an incident. And I feel constantly under attack by anarchic, not in the good way, cyclists. I regret not getting a shot of this.

Bike riders in NYC tend to be very smug and self-entitled and are constantly running red lights while expecting pedestrians to get out of their way. I'm fed up with the lot of 'em! Bravo to the police!

Pedestrians seem to think that its grievous if bikes actually try to bike in the bike lane, as they prefer to stand in them. Sorry if I have no sympathy for those mortified souls who think its their god-given right to endanger me, by making me swerve into traffic to avoid them, because they cannot stomach paying attention- ie, not texting, phoning, emailing while walking.Get a grip.

I'm a biker and I've been ticketed. It's something like 140 bucks. Look, lots of bikers are dicks as seen in above comments. Sure I watch about now when I run a light. I always defer to pedestrians though.

stupidity rules these days.you bikers are all so self righteous! cars are the problem.... pedestrians... not you self congratulatory folks that think that laws are made for others. yes, cars jump the light. does that give you the right to break the law?how many times have you seen a car going the wrong way or driving on the sidewalk?the pecking order is cars are the biggest and most dangerous. then bikes and skateboards. then pedestrians. i've never seen a pedestrian demolish a car.get real. get some respect for others. be more thoughtful of what you are doing and most of the complaints will stop.

Hey you haters,Let's not forget that biking is SO much better for the environment than driving. And as a long ago bike rider, I know that it's not so unreasonable to go through a light after carefully checking for those who have the legal right of way.

@Anon 11;52, what's even better for the environment is walking. You don't think making a bicycle creates pollution? It's that smug "I'm GREEN/COOL/HIP (take your pick) so the rules don't apply to ME" attitude that makes us bike haters foam at the mouth, when yet another young arrogant prick almost slams into us when we have the right of way and then screams curses at us for having the audacity to be in the space they feel THEY need to occupy.

I don't text while walking. Hell, I rarely listen to headphones when I'm walking and still I nearly get nailed.

I'm not anti-bike, I ride one myself, but a majority of the people on bikes I see have no problem blowing through red lights, cutting across the streets into pedestrian traffic, riding in the opposite direction in their lane or NOT USING THEIR DEDICATED LANE altogether.

the police do give tickets for jaywalking - and jaywalking can be dangerous - mostly to the jaywalker. perhaps the police realize that getting rear-ended by a pedestrian is less damaging or dangerous then by a bike or car.everyone should obey traffic laws. everyone.no one should determine when it is safe to break those laws. it really never is. and everyone that does not obey traffic laws should be blessed by having an accident.it's not as if one's life depended on cutting through a red light.get real folks!

I am a biker and I have to say that of all the threats out there, some bikers scare me the most. Sure, joggers that decide bike lanes are their personal running tracks are a pain, as well as cars that decide that your life is less important for them then turning left. And pedestrians who also jaywalk without looking, forcing you into unwelcoming metal traffic. But some bikers are pure criminals (they usually ride fixies), even towards other bikers , inconsiderate about others safety. If they want to kill themselves, fine but please, leave us out of your inconsiderate insanity. So cops, please ticket as much as can, as long as you ticket those f** joggers too.

Named one of the best NYC Neighborhood blogs in 2015

Named Best Local Website New York 2014 by The Village Voice

Named one of the Essential NYC neighborhood blogs 2014

By the way

Here, you'll find things that you may or may not be interested in about the East Village and other parts of New York City. Appreciating what's here while it's still here. Remembering what's no longer here. Wishing some things weren't here that are here.

We love tips

Have a story idea or tip about something happening in the East Village? Or maybe a photo? Or several photos? Or video! We'd love to hear about it. Or see it. Or something. Please go here to submit a tip.

Named Best Neighborhood Blog in the First Annual Village Voice Web Awards